Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us - in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to us, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).
Christ became a curse for us, so that we might receive the blessing of Abraham - that is the promise of the Holy Spirit. The curse for not keeping the Law is described in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 as confusion, incurable sicknesses, plagues, constant failure, blindness, madness, no rest or peace of mind, being exploited by others, children being captured by the enemy (Satan), abject poverty etc.
The good news of the gospel is that because Jesus has already become a curse for us, none of these curses of the Law need touch us any more. That itself would have been good news. But there is more. We can have instead, the blessing with which God blessed Abraham. Note that the blessing we are promised in that verse, is not the blessing of the Law described in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 which consists mainly of material prosperity and many children. No. We are promised something better: The blessing of Abraham described in Genesis 12:2-3: “I will bless you… so you shall be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”.
This is the blessing Christ has purchased for us on the cross through His becoming a curse for us. He wants to bless us and make us a blessing to every one we come across on earth, all our life. This blessing comes to us through receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a well of water springing up within us and BLESSING US (John 4:14), and then as rivers of water flowing out through us and BLESSING OTHERS (John 7:37-39).
How has your own life been in the past? Have you found that whatever you have put your hand to has been a failure? Have you found that the words that you have spoken have only brought confusion and chaos? Have you found frustration and depression and gloom and loss everywhere you have turned? The good news of the gospel is that you can be free from all of that permanently. Christ has taken the curse of the Law so that you might never receive it. Not only can you be free from those curses, you can now be a blessing to others.
The Lord’s promise to even the worst sinner living in sin and failure today is: “Even as you have been a CURSE in times past, you can be a BLESSING to others in times to come” (Zechariah 8:13). Perhaps you have been a curse to others by polluting everyone you’ve met, with your criticisms, your gossip and your backbiting. Have you been a spreader of spiritual plague everywhere you have gone? Things can be different from now on. You can be a spreader of spiritual healing and blessing. God can make rivers of living water flow through you, so that wherever you go, others are healed and blessed through the Holy Spirit working through you (Ezekiel 47:8,9).
The will of God is that you should be a BLESSING to every family you meet on earth. But you must believe God’s Word and claim your birthright in Christ. Satan has robbed you of this for so long. You must believe that since Jesus has already become a curse for you, no curse can touch you henceforth. You are going to be a blessing to your family, to your neighbors and to the church. Hallelujah!
When people curse us, Jesus told us to bless them in return (Luke 6:28). Our calling is to be a blessing even to those who are evil towards us (1 Peter 3:9). Anointed with the Holy Spirit we too can, as Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), go around doing good and blessing people everywhere. No-one who comes in touch with you in future, will be polluted or hurt by your words, as in past days. Instead, they will be blessed… and blessed abundantly.
Zac Poonen
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